FOXBOROUGH Mass. -- Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye is expected to start the season finale Sunday against the Bills as New England plans to play all of its healthy starters.
If the Patriots (3-13) lose to the visiting Bills, they would secure the first overall pick in this year's NFL draft.
"Drake is our starting quarterback. If he's healthy and ready to go, as we go through this week of practice, then he'll play," Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said Wednesday. "He's a competitor, he wants to play and he's still developing. He'll be ready to go."
Mayo had said Monday that all possibilities were under consideration for the finale but was more direct Wednesday.
"I'm sure the question will come up, 'Do you want to see certain players?' Absolutely. If players are healthy, they'll be ready to go," he said.
"As far as how much they play, how much they don't, I've never been a part of a team as a player or as a coach going into a game not wanting to win. That's not going to change today. ... My message to the guys was we want to finish off the season strong. Try to build some momentum going into the offseason."
Later on Wednesday, the Patriots listed Maye on their injury report as a limited participant in practice with an injury to his right hand.
For the Bills, coach Sean McDermott said Josh Allen will start because his consecutive starting streak is important to the star quarterback, but he will come out of the game soon thereafter. The Bills (13-3) have locked in the No. 2 seed in the AFC and plan to rest Allen and others.
In his weekly news conference Wednesday, Maye said he felt "great" after taking a hit to the helmet in Saturday's 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, which led to him leaving the game briefly to be evaluated for a concussion.
"I'm preparing like I'm the starter. I'm looking forward to being out there. I'm ready to go out there and win and compete," Maye said.
"In a close game, I want to be out there. Getting experiences in these close games, you can't replicate that in practice. I'm looking forward to getting more chances with these guys and end off on a good note."